Microgestin FE 1/20 causing depression/low sex drive?? - Birth Control Message Board

thelovelyartist · 08-15-2007, 12:37 PM

I've been on Microgestin FE 1/20 for a little over six months now. I switched to that from Yasmin b/c the side effects were too much (extreme nausea, adomenal craps), and my gyno thought I should switch to a pill with less hormone dosage (hence the 20 mg now). (I don't take anyother presecribed medication, so I'm not used to having to watch out for noticeable side effects from drugs.)

The pill was great at first, no nausea, no cramping, no break-thru bleeding; when I did get my period, there was hardly any bleeding even, my acne has definetly decreased, and my boobs got bigger. (Kind of nice not having to buy pads that often!).

Unforunately, I did notice that my sex drive decreased, I'm not even interested in being sexual or thinking about it (though that might just personally be me, I'm not sure). I don't even feel like getting off once in a while...it's annoying b/c I have a boyfriend now and I'm unsure about having sex with him (like I said, this part may not be related to the pill)...but I'm worried that the pill has decreased my sex drive.

Also, when I began the 7th month of Microgestin, I noticed that everytime I take the pill at night after eating dinner, I get stomach/abdomen pains, I don't feel really nauseous, but I become bloated and burp a lot. I only get this discomfort after I take the pill, I don't feel the same feelings in the morning after eating breakfast or lunch. Could this discomfort be caused by the pill?

And also, I'm afraid Microgestin might be giving me depression, b/c I don't feel happy anymore on a daily basis. Sure, it's different when I'd go to work (I work with little kids, so of course I have to appear happy at least). But I've noticed I've become more negative than usual and experience a few social anxiety symptoms...Maybe I already had a bit of depression and social anxiety, but could Microgestin be making it worse?

I'm considering just going off the pill...I don't think I'd want to switch to something else right now though it's annoying to have to make an appointment with the gyno and try something new. Like I said before, since I don't take anyother presribed meds (birth control has been my first prescription for a long time), I don't like having to watch out for the side effects. Anyone have any ideas on if these "side effects" is related to Microgestin? I'm disappointed b/c this pill has had some good side effects, but if I'm afraid it's making me depressed, then I wouldn't want to continue with it.

If anyone has anything to share, or have taken this birth control pill, I'd love to hear your input! Thanks so much.

Kszan · 08-15-2007, 03:57 PM

I was on microgestin the longest of all the pills I tried. And although my breakthrough bleeding problems went away once I started it, I still had the standard problems which happen with most pills sooner or later, including the depression and loss of sex drive. That happens to a lot of women on the pill, it's just a side effect that happens and not much can be done about it except either suck it up and deal with it, or do what I did and quit taking it.

I never realized until after I quit the pill, how depressed I was and how bad I really felt on it. My cramps were always worse on the pill and my bleeding lasted a lot longer on the pill. And my sex drive was completely gone on the pill. Now that I've quit (and been off for over a year), everything is back to normal and I actually feel like I'm human again. It took a really long time for me to feel normal again, but at least now I know that the pill is crap and that it's definitely not a good option for me.

And like I said, microgestin was the one I stayed on the longest of all of them. I had tried almost every brand over the 15 years I'd been on the pill, the only ones I never had experienced were Yasmin and Yaz because I didn't want to try those. But I tried pretty much every other brand out there and hated them all.

It's worth it to quit. And if you have any feelings of wanting to quit then I say go for it. Being on the pill is NOT worth all of the problems it causes!

renton11111 · 06-27-2008, 11:40 PM

I have noticed some changes in my sex drive. I still have desire, I just need a little more attention from my partner. Once we get going though, it's a lot like before and in some ways better.

I was a little bit afraid of all the comments from other women about depression. I don't feel depressed at all. I am only in my second month taking it. I do feel PMSy and feel like I have gained a couple of pounds, I have mild headaches now and then. The PMS like feeling and the headaches have gotten less noticeable when I started to take the pill at night before bed. I do it when I wash my contacts so I don't forget. This way I asleep when the harsher effects are in play until my body regulates to the pill.

I went to a local vitamin expert and he steered me towards vitamin B6. It helps with water retention issues and with depression. Supposedly the Pill depletes the B vitamins in your system, so look into taking about 50mg a day. see if that makes a difference.